Computer

Personal computer

By Jonathon Young 23

  • PC's

    PC's
    In December 9, 1968 digital computers where designed for use by only one person at a time. A typical personal computer assemblage consists of a central processing unit, which contains the computer’s arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry on an integrated circuit; two types of computer memory, main memory, such as digital random-access memory, and auxiliary memory, such as discs and various input/output devices, including a display screen, keyboard and mouse, modem, and printer.

  • The making of the PC's

    The making of the PC's
    The personal computer industry truly began in 1977, with the introduction of three reassembled mass-produced personal computers.

  • IBM PC's

    IBM PC's
    IBM Corporation the world’s dominant computer maker, did not enter the new market until 1981, when it introduced the IBM Personal Computer, or IBM PC. The IBM PC was significantly faster than rival machines, had about 10 times their memory capacity, and was backed by IBM’s large sales organization.

  • graphical user interface (GUI)

    graphical user interface (GUI)
    In 1983 Apple introduced Lisa, a personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) to perform routine operations. A GUI is a display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a device called a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen.

  • The Intel 80386 32-bit microprocessor

    The Intel 80386 32-bit microprocessor
    These advances in software and operating systems were matched by the development of microprocessors containing ever-greater numbers of circuits, with resulting increases in the processing speed and power of personal computers. The Intel 80386 32-bit microprocessor (introduced 1985) gave the Compaq Computer Corporation’s Compaq 386 (introduced 1986) and IBM’s PS/2 family of computers (introduced 1987) greater speed and memory capacity.

  • The Palm Pilot personal digital assistant (PDA)

    The Palm Pilot personal digital assistant (PDA)
    By 1990 some personal computers had become small enough to be completely portable. They included laptop computers, also known as notebook computers, which were about the size of a notebook, and less-powerful pocket-sized computers, known as personal digital assistants (PDAs). At the high end of the PC market, multimedia personal computers equipped with DVD players and digital sound system.